Everyone went Ow when Powell made his little toe drag move on Saturday. I hardly reacted cause I am so used to it by now.
I didn't. I am also used to those moves happening and more often than not him not having enough support for the team to capitalize on it and actually score a goal.

This game is not about finishing all your chances....This game is about producing chances...
Really?? Last I checked, competitive sports are all about who SCORES the most. It's fine to be happy with the team's performance in a game like Friday's in the regular season, but when the playoffs come around it no longer matters whether you generated chances, but whether you scored goals on more of them than you allow. Bottom line. Moral victories (the "oh, but they played so well") are only good for teams that lose.

Every game every team missed grade A scoring chances all the time....
True, but the team needs to do that at a lower rate than their opponent if they want to win.

The real question is did we generate enough chances to have a chance to win the game.
No, actually it isn't. In many of the team's losses in previous years they certainly did generate enough chances to win. They just didn't (wait for it...) FINISH.

Yes sometime teams do that and have a bad habit of not finishing their chances, but this teams is far from that kind of team.
If you had read my entire post, you'd see that I said exactly that. I noted that this issue is so far happening far less this season than in recent years, which is a good sign. It's just a lingering concern because of the recent history.

People are just too spoiled from the days when AIC would come in and the Tigers could all most sleep walk to a 6-2 win. The teams are much better now and especially are the goaltender.
This has nothing to do with it, except that there have been games (again... mostly in the past) where the team rightfully should have won by 3 or 4 goals based on the number of chances they generated but just didn't finish enough and ended up in a tight 1-goal game with a legitimate chance to lose. Nothing to do with the improvement of the opponents. I will say, however, that it has been quite some time since any AHC team could sleepwalk through any game and expect to win by any score, let alone 6-2. Even when AIC, Sacred Heart, etc were pretty weak, they still put up a good fight most of the time. I don't believe RIT spent nearly enough time in the league when there was a big imbalance for anyone to have been spoiled by it.
On a somewhat unrelated note, I will say once again (I've said this even back to the 4 year D-III decline before the move to D-I )... If all of your opponents are improving, you also need to improve. Not that RIT was ever that much ahead of the rest of the AHC for any extended period, but if your competition catches up to you, then you didn't do what you needed to do to stay on top. It's easy to say "Everyone else got better, so our expectations shouldn't be so high anymore", but it's actually incumbent on the program to keep pace with conference counterparts rather than watch them catch up and pass by. I know you'll all cite the scholarship issue, but the scholarship discrepancy has always been there. It makes it more difficult, but RIT has proven it can be overcome before. That just isn't a good excuse.

komey1

12-07-2017, 04:34 PM

On a somewhat unrelated note, I will say once again (I've said this even back to the 4 year D-III decline before the move to D-I )... If all of your opponents are improving, you also need to improve. Not that RIT was ever that much ahead of the rest of the AHC for any extended period, but if your competition catches up to you, then you didn't do what you needed to do to stay on top. It's easy to say "Everyone else got better, so our expectations shouldn't be so high anymore", but it's actually incumbent on the program to keep pace with conference counterparts rather than watch them catch up and pass by. I know you'll all cite the scholarship issue, but the scholarship discrepancy has always been there. It makes it more difficult, but RIT has proven it can be overcome before. That just isn't a good excuse.

I'm going to comment on this part. I believe RIT has been getting quality classes so I don't think that is an issue. Heck, prior to last year, RIT went to the last 2 NCAAs. They have only had 3 losing season in the AHC era - and that is pretty darn good. I think other teams are going after and getting better talent. Schools are improving their facilities AND getting scholarships. What RIT has that very few other teams in Atlantic Hockey have is a winning tradition and a strong fan base.

komey1

12-08-2017, 01:23 PM

I also think the question is: what SHOULD the expectations of the program be?

For me, the expectation is making the AHC semifinals most years and occasional conference championships.

Downstate_RIT_Fan

12-08-2017, 03:47 PM

I also think the question is: what SHOULD the expectations of the program be?

For me, the expectation is making the AHC semifinals most years and occasional conference championships.

If, if, as Tom previously has written, RIT can move that save percentage into the .900 range and maintain a +3 goals scored per game then I too would have the expectation of RIT being one of the four teams at the BCA. With additional tweaking I think those statistics are within their reach. I am also a strong proponent of what coach previously mentioned about the competitiveness from top to bottom of the league and likely being within a goal of our opponent after two and the necessity of winning that third period. I know its a bit cliche but win the third period outright and the chances of winning your game increases greatly. Lets see how the OOC game goes tonight.

blazer777

12-08-2017, 06:32 PM

Down 3-0 after eight minutes, yikes!

Downstate_RIT_Fan

12-08-2017, 06:46 PM

Down 3-0 after eight minutes, yikes!

No worries Blaze. This is our Michigan strategy. Let them score four times in the first and then come storming back ala Brick City 2013-14. :)

Downstate_RIT_Fan

12-08-2017, 07:39 PM

No worries Blaze. This is our Michigan strategy. Let them score four times in the first and then come storming back ala Brick City 2013-14. :)

Never mind :(

blazer777

12-08-2017, 07:42 PM

Never mind :(

You gave me hope and then crushed it!😁

Downstate_RIT_Fan

12-08-2017, 08:00 PM

You gave me hope and then crushed it!😁

Sorry bout that :)

Hey if we win the third period 2-0 well repeat that 7-4 Michigan score. So theres that. Go Tigers! :)

Downstate_RIT_Fan

12-08-2017, 08:04 PM

Nope

LtPowers

12-08-2017, 08:49 PM

Okay, you convinced me, goaltending is a problem.

Though I suspect tonight they just weren't prepared for the speed of Providence. We were only outscored 4-3 in the final two stanzas. Tomorrow should be more competitive.

Powers &8^]

LtPowers

12-08-2017, 08:49 PM

I also think the question is: what SHOULD the expectations of the program be?

For me, the expectation is making the AHC semifinals most years and occasional conference championships.

I expect conference championships most years, occasional Frozen Four trips.

Powers &8^]

RIT Winters

12-08-2017, 10:39 PM

It's pretty alarming that RIT hasn't had a dependable/good starting goalie since 2011-12.

This coaching staff has consistently found diamonds in the rough for forwards and defense..what's up with the quality of our goalie prospects?

The Zlax45

12-08-2017, 11:45 PM

PC fan here and the goaltending especially early had no chance as there was a ton of deflected shots and one timers that no goalie is going to stop. The defense letting PC into the slot area was the problem causing traffic.

PC fan here and the goaltending especially early had no chance as there was a ton of deflected shots and one timers that no goalie is going to stop. The defense letting PC into the slot area was the problem causing traffic.
That's what it sounded like on the radio. Coach new they needed to stop that, and the team did not respond.

komey1

12-09-2017, 07:13 PM

It's pretty alarming that RIT hasn't had a dependable/good starting goalie since 2011-12.

This coaching staff has consistently found diamonds in the rough for forwards and defense..what's up with the quality of our goalie prospects?

And yet, they have 2 NCAA appearances, including a win.

Ruby was relatively highly rated, but was inconsistant. Rotolo was a decent, but not great goalie. Dracett came in as a top goalie in his league and started out well in conference play. He's slumping a bit now, and Short is making the most of his opportunity so far.

LtPowers

12-09-2017, 07:35 PM

Short is making the most of his opportunity so far.

And how!

(Currently 3-0 RIT.)

Powers &8^]

blazer777

12-09-2017, 08:26 PM

And how!

(Currently 3-0 RIT.)

Powers &8^]
What a turn around from the night before. Providence has to be thinking, WTH?

jflory81

12-09-2017, 08:45 PM

Gotta think Short will be given a chance to run with the job when they come back from break. Awesome to see him get the shutout.

This team can be really good if it can get some consistent goaltending. They're right into the fire once conference play resumes. Series against Canisius, Mercyhurst, Air Force, and Niagara are going to test them and make those game in hand points tough to grab.